Developer(s) | Bill Kendrick, David Bruce , Holger Levsen, Tim Holy, Sam Hart, Brendan Luchen, Jesus Mager |
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Stable release | 2.0.0 / 14 April 2011 |
Operating system | Cross-platform |
Type | Educational game |
License | GNU General Public License |
Website | Tux4Kids on alioth.debian.org |
Tux, of Math Command (TuxMath, for short) is an open source arcade-style video game for learning mathematics, initially created for Linux. The game-play mechanic is based loosely on that of the arcade game Missile Command, but with comets falling on cities, rather than missiles. Like Missile Command, players attempt to protect their cities, but rather than using a trackball-controlled targeting cross-hair, players solve math problems that label each comet, which causes a laser to destroy it. Since 1.7.0 the game also include a multiplayer mode and Factor-fraction activity called Factoroids.
Eventually the city imagery was replaced with igloos, to match the arctic theme of Tux, the Linux penguin, who stars in the game. (The first alpha of the game was released by its initial developer, Bill Kendrick, in September 2001, days prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks. It was decided that the imagery of exploding buildings was no longer suitable.)
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TuxMath is included in numerous Linux distributions, including the Edubuntu flavor of Ubuntu. It is included as a game on the ASUS Eee PC.[1] It was also included on the Dish Network 721 PVR.[2]
Numerous schools use TuxMath[3], and school newsletters[4], educational[5], software websites[6][7][8] and publications[9][10] mention it, often together with other open source educational software.